NEW YORK—Eyewear company Modo has announced the acquisition of ICU Eyewear, a designer of over-the-counter, non-prescription reading glasses, sunglasses, blue light blocking eyewear, sun readers and outdoor specialty sunglasses, effective immediately. The strategic purchase, Modo told VMAIL, is aimed at expanding the company's reach in reading glasses and sunwear and increasing its offerings to meet the growing demands of customers seeking readers. Modo Eyewear launched ONE:1, a sustainable carbon-negative readers brand, for the independent channel in 2023, and, according to the company, adding ICU Eyewear to this offering will allow for broader solutions.

With a heritage of more than 60 years, ICU Eyewear has fostered a loyal customer base over its decades of operation, Modo stated, adding that the acquisition aligns with its mission to meet customers’ needs as a one-stop shop. 

"We are excited to welcome the ICU team and ICU Eyewear’s customers to the Modo family," Rebecca Giefer, CEO Modo, U.S./Americas, told VMAIL. "This acquisition underscores our dedication to meeting the diverse needs of our customers.” 

The acquisition of ICU Eyewear by Modo follows last week’s news, announced by 1847 Holdings LLC (NYSE American:EFSH), a publicly traded diversified acquisition holding company, that it had been working with its senior secured lender to sell all or substantially all of the assets of its ICU Eyewear business. The company advised that it received notice from its senior secured lender on Aug. 5 that a private sale of the assets occurred pursuant to a bill of sale. 1847 Holdings closed the acquisition of ICU Eyewear in February of 2023.

Modo's acquisition of ICU Eyecare this month follows its purchase of Italia Independent, the eyewear brand founded by Lapo Elkann, in September of 2023. This transaction, as reported in VMAIL, was part of a strategic plan to offer customers a product that can increasingly combine tradition and innovation with style and design, Modo noted at the time.

Modo designs, manufactures and distributes a portfolio of house, designer and contemporary lifestyle brands. It is a global company with offices in New York, Milan and Stockholm.